Maynard Jackson drops out of DNC race

Maynard Jackson, left, and Terry McAuliffe on Saturday

From CNN Correspondent Bob Franken

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Former Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson on Saturday dropped out of the race to become chairman of the Democratic National Committee, leaving Democratic fund-raiser and Clinton friend Terry McAuliffe the only candidate for the post.

McAuliffe had been the front-runner, having locked up the majority of the party's voting members.

After a series of meetings, Jackson agreed to a deal whereby he would withdraw from the race and accept instead the chairmanship of the Voters Rights Institute, an organization within the DNC.

The position is considered to be an important one because the DNC plans to spend time addressing the recent problems with the presidential election in Florida. The secondary post also will provide Jackson a platform to pursue his talent for organizing the party's grass-roots efforts.

Delegate objects to McAuliffe's 'colored people' remark

On Friday, a DNC delegate called on McAuliffe to withdraw his candidacy for the top job after he referred to African-Americans as "colored people" in remarks at a meeting.

Alvin Holmes, a representative to Alabama's state house, said McAuliffe answered a question about the practice of racial profiling by saying that he didn't believe "colored people" should be arbitrarily stopped by law enforcement.

The incident occurred Friday as McAuliffe addressed a meeting of the Association of State Democratic Chairs during the 2001 DNC meeting.

When asked later what phrase he used to characterize African-Americans, McAuliffe said "The phrase is people of color."

Holmes told CNN that when McAuliffe addressed the Congressional Black Caucus on Friday afternoon, he told members that if he said colored people before, he apologizes, and explained that he meant to say people of color.

Holmes said some members of the caucus shouted "No you didn't!" at the Democratic fund-raiser.

The Alabama representative said he is asking McAuliffe to step aside unless he apologizes to all the delegates of the committee in Washington.